Parent-Adolescent Conflict, Peer Victimization, and Internet Gaming Disorder Among Chinese Adolescents: The Moderating Effect of OXTR Gene rs53576 Polymorphism.

Abstract

Despite growing evidence that parent-adolescent conflict positively correlates with Internet gaming disorder (IGD) among adolescents, its underlying mediating and moderating mechanisms have yet to be thoroughly examined. Based on the social development model and gene-environment interaction perspective, this study investigates whether the indirect association of parent-adolescent conflict, which impacts adolescent IGD through peer victimization, was moderated by the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene rs53576 polymorphism. Overall, 673 Chinese adolescents (Mean_age = 12.81 years; SD = 0.48 years; 54% boys) were included in this study. The participants completed questionnaires concerning parent-adolescent conflict, peer victimization, and IGD, and genomic DNA was extracted from each participant's saliva and buccal cells. The findings indicated that peer victimization mediated the link between parent-adolescent conflict and IGD among adolescents. The OXTR gene rs53576 polymorphism also moderated this indirect link. Specifically, the indirect effect of parent-adolescent conflict on adolescent IGD through peer victimization was significant for adolescents with AA homozygotes. However, it was non-significant for adolescents with GA and GG genotypes. This research simultaneously considers the roles of family, peers, and genetics in adolescent IGD. Furthermore, it provides beneficial information to customize interventions for adolescent IGD prevention.